Oh my word it's been an exciting week and it's only Wednesday!On Monday the Joan Hessayon Award contenders were announced and I was thrilled that It Started At Sunset Cottage is on the list. The Romantic Novelists' Association is amazingly supportive and this award is just another way that it showcases new authors that have come through its New Writer's Scheme. Yet again the list of contenders is chock full of first class reads.The full shortlist for 2016 is:

Her Forget-Me-Not Ex by Sophie Claire, Accent Press

Letting in Light by Emma Davies, Amazon Media

Take a Chance on Me by Debbie Flint, Choc Lit

A Street Café Named Desire by R J Gould, Accent Press

The Gunner Girl by Clare Harvey, Simon & Schuster UK

Waiting for You by Catherine Miller, Carina

It Started at Sunset Cottage by Bella Osborne, HarperImpulse

Remarkable Things by Deirdre Palmer, Crooked Cat Publishing

The Giants Look Down by Sonja Price, Robert Hale

Sense and French Ability by Ros Rendle, Endeavour Press

The Hidden Legacy by Julie Roberts, Accent Press

The Friendship Tree by Helen J Rolfe, Crooked Cat Publishing

French Kissing by Lynne Shelby, Accent Press

The Cherry Tree Café by Heidi Swain, Simon & Schuster UK

The winner will be announced at the RNA Summer Party in four weeks time which is always a lovely evening, so I can't wait!

As if that weren't enough excitement for one week, yesterday Harper Impulse did a cover reveal for my second book 'A Family Holiday' which is due out on 16th June. It is such a summery cover and it displays a terrific quote from the lovely Katie Fforde who has been so supportive.

And today it is full on sunshine in the UK. I think I need to go for a lie down in the sun with a cool drink and a custard cream!